第 21 节
作者:这就是结局      更新:2021-02-20 14:15      字数:9322
  indeed to hearken unto you and yours in this; tell me; how large an
  army would you send me and how much money for the war?〃
  '32' And the king replied; 〃The simplest answer I can make and the
  most straightforward is to tell you what my power is; and then you may
  take the men you choose; and leave the rest to garrison the country。
  And so with the money: it is only fair that you should know the whole
  of our wealth; and with that knowledge to guide you; you will take
  what you like and leave what you like。〃 '33' And Cyrus said; 〃Tell me
  then; and tell me true: how great is your power and your wealth?〃
  Whereupon the Armenian replied: 〃Our cavalry is 8000 strong and our
  infantry 40;000; and our wealth;〃 said he; 〃if I include the treasures
  which my father left; amounts in silver to more than 3000 talents。〃
  '34' And Cyrus; without more ado; said at once; 〃Of your whole
  armament you shall give me half; not more; since your neighbours the
  Chaldaeans are at war with you: but for the tribute; instead of the
  fifty talents which you paid before; you shall hand over twice as much
  to Cyaxares because you made default; and you will lend me another
  hundred for myself; and I hereby promise you; if God be bountiful; I
  will requite you for the loan with things of higher worth; or I will
  pay the money back in full; if I can; and if I cannot; you may blame
  me for want of ability; but not for want of will。〃 '35' But the
  Armenian cried; 〃By all the gods; Cyrus; speak not so; or you will put
  me out of heart。 I beg you to look on all I have as yours; what you
  leave behind as well as what you take away。〃
  〃So be it then;〃 answered Cyrus; 〃and to ransom your wife; how much
  money would you give?〃 〃All that I have;〃 said he。 〃And for your
  sons?〃 〃For them too; all that I have。〃 〃Good;〃 answered Cyrus; 〃but
  is not that already twice as much as you possess? '36' And you;
  Tigranes;〃 said he; 〃at what price would you redeem your bride?〃 Now
  the youth was but newly wedded; and his wife was beyond all things
  dear to him。 〃I would give my life;〃 said he; 〃to save her from
  slavery。〃 '37' 〃Take her then;〃 said Cyrus; 〃she is yours。 For I hold
  that she has never yet been made a prisoner; seeing that her husband
  never deserted us。 And you; son of Armenia;〃 said he; turning to the
  king; 〃you shall take home your wife and children; and pay no ransom
  for them; so that they shall not feel they come to you from slavery。
  But now;〃 he added; 〃you shall stay and sup with us; and afterwards
  you shall go wherever you wish。〃
  And so the Armenians stayed。 '38' But when the company broke up after
  the evening meal; Cyrus asked Tigranes; 〃Tell me; where is that friend
  of yours who used to hunt with us; and whom; as it seemed to me; you
  admired so much?〃 〃Do you not know;〃 he said; 〃that my father put him
  to death?〃 〃And why?〃 said Cyrus; 〃what fault did he find in him?〃 〃He
  thought he corrupted me;〃 said the youth; 〃and yet; I tell you; Cyrus;
  he was so gentle and so brave; so beautiful in soul; that when he came
  to die; he called me to him and said; 'Do not be angry with your
  father; Tigranes; for putting me to death。 What he does is not done
  from malice; but from ignorance; and the sins of ignorance; I hold;
  are unintentional。'〃
  '39' And at that Cyrus could not but say: 〃Poor soul! I grieve for
  him。〃 But the king spoke in his own defence: 〃Remember this; Cyrus;
  that the man who finds another with his wife kills him not simply
  because he believes that he has turned the woman to folly; but because
  he has robbed him of her love。 Even so I was jealous of that man who
  seemed to put himself between my son and me and steal away his
  reverence。〃 '40' 〃May the gods be merciful to us!〃 said Cyrus; 〃you
  did wrong; but your fault was human。 And you; Tigranes;〃 said he;
  turning to the son; 〃you must forgive your father。〃
  And so they talked in all friendliness and kindliness; as befitted
  that time of reconciliation; and then the father and son mounted their
  carriages; with their dear ones beside them; and drove away rejoicing。
  '41' But when they were home again; they all spoke of Cyrus; one
  praising his wisdom; another his endurance; a third the gentleness of
  his nature; and a fourth his stature and his beauty。 Then Tigranes
  turned to his wife and asked; 〃Did Cyrus seem so beautiful in your
  eyes?〃 But she answered; 〃Ah; my lord; he was not the man I saw。〃 〃Who
  was it then?〃 asked Tigranes。 〃He;〃 she answered; 〃who offered his own
  life to free me from slavery。〃
  And so they took their delight together; as lovers will; after all
  their sufferings。
  '42' But on the morrow the king of Armenia sent gifts of hospitality
  to Cyrus and all his army; and bade his own contingent make ready to
  march on the third day; and himself brought Cyrus twice the sum which
  he had named。 But Cyrus would take no more than he had fixed; and gave
  the rest back to the king; only asking whether he or his son was to
  lead the force。 And the father answered that it should be as Cyrus
  chose; but the son said; 〃I will not leave you; Cyrus; if I must carry
  the baggage to follow you。〃 '43' And Cyrus laughed and said; 〃What
  will you take to let us tell your wife that you have become a baggage…
  bearer?〃 〃She will not need to be told;〃 he answered; 〃I mean to bring
  her with me; and she can see for herself all that her husband does。〃
  〃Then it is high time;〃 said Cyrus; 〃that you got your own baggage
  together now。〃 〃We will come;〃 said he; 〃be sure of that; in good
  time; with whatever baggage my father gives。〃
  So the soldiers were the guests of Armenia for the day; and rested for
  that night。
  'C。2' But on the day following Cyrus took Tigranes and the best of the
  Median cavalry; with chosen followers of his own; and scoured the
  whole country to decide where he should build a fort。 He halted on the
  top of a mountain…pass and asked Tigranes where the heights lay down
  which the Chaldaeans swept when they came to plunder。 Tigranes showed
  him。 Then Cyrus asked him if the mountains were quite uninhabited。
  〃No; indeed;〃 said the prince; 〃there are always men on the look…out;
  who signal to the others if they catch sight of anything。〃 〃And what
  do they do;〃 he asked; 〃when they see the signal?〃 〃They rush to the
  rescue;〃 he said; 〃as quickly as they can。〃 '2' Cyrus listened and
  looked; and he could see that large tracts lay desolate and untilled
  because of the war。 That day they came back to camp and took their
  supper and slept。 '3' But the next morning Tigranes presented himself
  with all his baggage in order and ready for the march; 4000 cavalry at
  his back; 10;000 bowmen; and as many targeteers。 While they were
  marching up; Cyrus offered sacrifice; and finding that the victims
  were favourable; he called the leaders of the Persians together and
  the chief captains of the Medes and spoke to them thus:
  '4' 〃My friends; there lie the Chaldaean hills。 If we could seize them
  and set a garrison to hold the pass; we should compel them both;
  Chaldaeans and Armenians alike; to behave themselves discreetly。 The
  victims are favourable; and to help a man in such a work as this there
  is no ally half so good as speed。 If we scale the heights before the
  enemy have time to gather; we may take the position out of hand
  without a blow; and at most we shall only find a handful of weak and
  scattered forces to oppose us。 '5' Steady speed is all I ask for; and
  surely I could ask for nothing easier or less dangerous。 To arms then!
  The Medes will march on our left; half the Armenians on our right; and
  the rest in the van to lead the way; the cavalry in our rear; to cheer
  us on and push us forward and let none of us give way。〃
  '6' With that Cyrus led the advance; the army in column behind him。 As
  soon as the Chaldaeans saw them sweeping up from the plain; they
  signalled to their fellows till the heights re…echoed with answering
  shouts; and the tribesmen gathered on every side。 Then Cyrus sent word
  along his lines; 〃Soldiers of Persia; they are signalling to us to
  make haste。 If only we reach the top before them; all they can do will
  be in vain。〃
  '7' Now the Chaldaeans were said to be the most warlike of all the
  tribes in that country; and each of them was armed with a shield and a
  brace of javelins。 They fight for pay wherever they are needed; partly
  because they are warriors born; but partly through poverty; for their
  country is mountainous; and the fertile part of it small。 '8' As Cyrus
  and his force drew near the head of the pass; Tigranes; who was
  marching at his side; said:
  〃Do you know; Cyrus; that before long we shall be in the thick of the
  fight ourselves? Our Armenians will never stand the charge。〃 Cyrus
  answered that he was well aware of that; and immediately sent word
  that the Persians should be ready to give chase at once; 〃as soon as
  we see the Armenians decoying the enemy by feigning flight and drawing
  them within our reach。〃
  '9' Thus they marched up with the Armenians in the van: and the
  Chaldaeans who had collected waited till they were almost on them; and
  then charged with a tremendous shout; as their custom was; and the
  Armenians; as was ever theirs; turned and ran。 '10' But in the midst
  of the pursuit